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UN Women EmPower Bootcamp 2026: Apply for AI for Gender-Responsive Climate Action Training During Bangkok Climate Action Week

Muhammad Chishti
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UN Women is inviting young people to register for the EmPower Bootcamp: AI for Gender-Responsive Climate Action, an intensive learning opportunity taking place as part of Bangkok Climate Action Week 2026.

The bootcamp will be held on 3 October 2026 and will bring together participants interested in understanding how artificial intelligence can be used to support climate action while also examining the gender, ethical, environmental and social implications associated with rapidly developing AI technologies.

Participants will be able to join either in person at Nextopia, Siam Paragon in Bangkok, Thailand, or online through Microsoft Teams, making the programme accessible to people who are unable to travel to Bangkok. The in-person component is limited to up to 50 participants.

The training is particularly relevant for young people interested in climate action, gender equality, responsible technology, artificial intelligence, digital innovation and sustainable development. Importantly, UN Women has indicated that applicants do not need previous programming or artificial-intelligence experience to participate.

Event Date: 3 October 2026

Time: 13:00–18:00 Bangkok time (UTC+7)

Venue: Nextopia, Siam Paragon, Bangkok, Thailand, with an online participation option through Microsoft Teams.

Registration Deadline: The official registration form does not state a specific closing date. Because in-person participation is limited and UN Women describes slots as limited, interested candidates should register as early as possible.

About the UN Women EmPower Bootcamp 2026

The EmPower Bootcamp: AI for Gender-Responsive Climate Action is designed to help young people develop a more practical and critical understanding of artificial intelligence and how emerging AI technologies can contribute to climate solutions.

Rather than treating AI only as a technical subject, the bootcamp approaches artificial intelligence through the interconnected lenses of:

The programme recognizes that AI can create new opportunities for climate action while also creating risks that need to be understood and managed.

The official registration form explains that participants will explore how artificial intelligence can support climate action that advances gender equality while critically examining its risks and limitations.

The learning format will include interactive sessions and practical exercises, meaning participants will not simply listen to presentations. They will actively engage with tools, concepts and project-development exercises throughout the bootcamp.

Why AI and Gender-Responsive Climate Action Matter

Artificial intelligence is increasingly influencing the way governments, businesses, researchers, civil-society organizations and communities analyze environmental challenges and design potential climate solutions.

AI technologies can potentially support areas such as:

However, technological solutions are not automatically inclusive.

AI systems are developed using data, algorithms and assumptions created within existing societies. If gender inequality or social exclusion exists within those societies or datasets, technology can reproduce or even intensify those inequalities.

This is why gender-responsive approaches to artificial intelligence are increasingly important.

UN Women’s bootcamp encourages participants to think critically about both the potential benefits and potential limitations of AI, rather than treating technology as automatically neutral or beneficial.

What Participants Will Learn

The bootcamp will cover several interconnected subject areas.

According to the official registration form, the programme includes:

Each of these areas contributes to the broader objective of helping young people understand how AI can be applied responsibly to climate challenges.

Understanding AI Fundamentals

One of the first areas of focus will be the basic concepts underlying artificial intelligence.

This is particularly important because the programme is not limited to technology professionals.

UN Women’s public announcement states that no programming or previous AI experience is required.

This means the bootcamp can be relevant to participants from a wide variety of backgrounds, including:

Participants will be introduced to AI concepts in a way intended to support later practical exercises.

Exploring Gender Bias in Artificial Intelligence

A major component of the programme will focus on gender bias in AI.

Artificial-intelligence systems are influenced by the data on which they are trained and by the way systems are designed and deployed.

Participants will therefore be encouraged to examine questions such as:

UN Women’s public communication for the event specifically highlights the need to identify bias, risks and safeguards when working with AI.

For participants interested in climate justice, gender equality or technology governance, this is an especially important component of the training.

Ethical Considerations in AI

The bootcamp will also examine ethical questions surrounding artificial intelligence.

As AI becomes more widely used, responsible deployment requires more than simply asking whether a technology is technically capable of performing a task.

Participants will also need to consider:

The programme therefore encourages participants to evaluate AI critically rather than focusing exclusively on technological capability.

Prompt Engineering

Participants will gain practical exposure to prompt engineering.

Prompt engineering refers to the process of structuring instructions and questions given to generative-AI systems in order to obtain more useful, accurate or contextually appropriate results.

This element of the bootcamp can help participants understand how to interact more effectively with generative-AI tools.

For climate activists, researchers, students and civil-society organizations, stronger prompting skills can potentially support activities such as:

The bootcamp is therefore intended to provide practical digital skills alongside broader discussions of gender and ethics.

Building Custom GPTs and AI Assistants

Another practical topic included in the programme is custom GPTs.

UN Women’s announcement describes the bootcamp as an opportunity for participants to experiment with prompting and build an AI assistant.

This is significant because it moves the programme beyond theoretical discussion.

Participants will have an opportunity to explore how an AI tool can be adapted around a defined purpose or challenge.

For example, this kind of thinking could potentially be applied to:

The emphasis is not on becoming a software engineer during a five-hour session, but on understanding how accessible AI tools can potentially be configured and applied responsibly.

Practical Applications of AI for Climate Action

The bootcamp will explore practical ways in which artificial intelligence can potentially support climate work.

Participants will be encouraged to consider technology in relation to real climate challenges rather than treating AI as an abstract concept.

UN Women describes the programme as a hands-on exploration of how AI can support climate action while participants critically examine its wider implications.

This practical orientation makes the bootcamp particularly relevant to young climate advocates and emerging professionals who want to understand how AI might strengthen their existing work.

Develop Your Own AI and Climate Project Idea

One of the most important components of the bootcamp will be helping participants develop their own project idea.

The official registration page states that the programme will move from AI fundamentals and practical applications toward supporting participants in developing an individual project concept.

UN Women similarly describes this as developing a responsible AI × climate project idea.

This gives participants an opportunity to move from learning concepts toward applying them creatively.

A project idea could potentially relate to the participant’s:

The programme therefore emphasizes active application rather than passive learning.

In-Person Participation in Bangkok

Participants can request to attend the bootcamp physically at:

Nextopia, Siam Paragon, Bangkok, Thailand

The session will take place from:

13:00 to 18:00 Bangkok time on 3 October 2026.

The registration form clearly states that the physical session can accommodate:

Up to 50 participants.

Because capacity is limited, submitting the registration form should be understood as registering interest, rather than an automatic guarantee of a physical place.

The official form itself asks applicants to indicate whether they prefer to participate in person or online.

Online Participation Through Microsoft Teams

Applicants unable to attend physically in Bangkok can select the:

Online via Microsoft Teams

option.

This makes the bootcamp significantly more accessible to interested young people located outside Thailand.

Online participation can be particularly useful for:

The form does not state that online participation requires travel to any physical venue.

Part of Bangkok Climate Action Week 2026

The EmPower Bootcamp is being delivered during Bangkok Climate Action Week 2026.

The official Bangkok Climate Action Week programme lists the EmPower Bootcamp on 3 October 2026 at 13:00 at Nextopia.

Bangkok Climate Action Week itself runs from 3 to 11 October 2026 and includes a wide variety of workshops, discussions, exhibitions and activities relating to climate action, sustainability, communities and environmental innovation.

By placing the bootcamp within this wider programme, participants attending physically in Bangkok will be engaging with a broader climate-action environment.

Who Is the Bootcamp Intended For?

UN Women describes the event as open to young people aged 35 and below.

The registration form collects applicants’ ages using the following categories:

However, UN Women’s public announcement explicitly states that the opportunity is open to young people aged 35 and below.

Accordingly, applicants aged 35 or younger should be regarded as the intended participant group.

No Programming Experience Required

A particularly important feature of the opportunity is that participants do not need previous coding, programming or AI experience.

UN Women specifically states:

No programming or previous AI experience required.

This significantly broadens accessibility.

A young climate activist with limited technical experience can therefore apply alongside someone with a technology or data background.

The programme is designed around learning, experimentation and responsible application rather than requiring participants to arrive with advanced technical expertise.

Applications from Individuals and Organizations

The registration form allows applicants to register either:

Applicants registering on behalf of an organization are asked to provide the organization’s name.

This means participation is not limited exclusively to employees of NGOs, international organizations or formal institutions.

Independent activists and other individual applicants can also register.

Strong Focus on Inclusive Participation

UN Women explicitly encourages applications from groups that are frequently underrepresented in technology, climate action and decision-making.

The official form states:

Applications are strongly encouraged from young women, gender-diverse youth, persons with disabilities, and youth from ethnic minorities and/or Indigenous groups.

Applicants are offered the option to voluntarily self-identify as:

This information reflects the programme’s emphasis on inclusive participation.

Gender Eligibility

The registration form asks applicants how they identify and provides the following choices:

This demonstrates that the event is not restricted only to women.

However, young women and gender-diverse youth are specifically encouraged to apply.

Countries Represented in the Registration Form

The registration form asks candidates to indicate their country of residence and provides a broad list that is heavily focused on Asia and the Pacific.

Countries and territories listed include:

The form also contains an “Other” option.

Therefore, the form does not establish an absolute country restriction solely to the named countries.

The opportunity clearly has a strong Asia-Pacific orientation, but applicants from other locations are not explicitly excluded by the registration form.

Pakistan Is Included

For applicants specifically interested in whether Pakistan is eligible, Pakistan is explicitly included in the country-of-residence options in the official registration form.

Pakistani youth who meet the age and other participation expectations can therefore submit an online registration.

Those unable to travel to Bangkok can indicate their preference for online participation.

What Information Is Required to Register?

The application process is relatively straightforward.

Applicants are asked to provide:

  1. Their preferred participation format: in person or online
  2. Full name
  3. Gender identity
  4. Age category
  5. Country of residence
  6. Whether they are applying as an individual/activist or for an organization
  7. Organization name, where applicable
  8. Optional self-identification relating to inclusion categories
  9. Email address

Applicants should provide an email address they check regularly because communications concerning participation are likely to be sent electronically.

No CV or Academic Transcript Required in the Registration Form

The current registration form does not request:

Instead, the process focuses on basic participant information and preferred attendance format.

This makes the registration process considerably simpler than many international training programmes.

No Specific Degree Requirement

The official form does not specify any required:

The main publicly stated participant requirement is that the opportunity is intended for young people aged 35 and below, and no previous programming or AI experience is required.

This means students, activists, young professionals and individuals from non-technical disciplines can potentially participate.

Event Schedule at a Glance

Programme: EmPower Bootcamp: AI for Gender-Responsive Climate Action

Organizer: UN Women

Part of: Bangkok Climate Action Week 2026

Date: 3 October 2026

Time: 13:00–18:00 Bangkok time, UTC+7

Physical Venue: Nextopia, Siam Paragon, Bangkok, Thailand

Online Format: Microsoft Teams

Physical Capacity: Up to 50 participants

Target Group: Young people aged 35 and below

AI/Programming Experience: Not required

Registration Deadline

The official Google Form does not provide a specific registration deadline.

UN Women has, however, stated that slots are limited, while physical attendance is capped at 50 participants.

Interested candidates should therefore register as early as possible before the 3 October 2026 event rather than waiting for a formal closing date to be announced.

How to Apply for the UN Women EmPower Bootcamp 2026

Interested candidates should complete the official registration form.

Applicants should:

  1. Select whether they want to participate physically in Bangkok or online.
  2. Enter their full name.
  3. Select their gender identity.
  4. Select the appropriate age category.
  5. Choose their country of residence.
  6. Indicate whether they are applying individually or on behalf of an organization.
  7. Provide the organization name if applicable.
  8. Complete the voluntary diversity and inclusion section.
  9. Enter a frequently monitored email address.
  10. Submit the form.

Official Registration Form:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScTkcCl4GKgAt4KoAkiDoj_cUJoprE6c4Bg7SiXwCckn2Usuw/viewform

Why Young Climate Leaders Should Consider the EmPower Bootcamp

Artificial intelligence is rapidly changing how information is produced, interpreted and used.

At the same time, climate change remains one of the most significant challenges facing current and future generations.

Young climate leaders increasingly need to understand not simply how emerging digital tools work, but also how they can be applied responsibly.

The EmPower Bootcamp brings together several areas that are particularly relevant to future climate leadership:

The programme is especially accessible because it does not require participants to have previous programming experience.

Instead, the emphasis is on helping young people explore AI critically, experiment with practical tools and think creatively about how responsible technology could contribute to climate solutions.

Conclusion

The UN Women EmPower Bootcamp: AI for Gender-Responsive Climate Action 2026 offers young people an opportunity to explore one of the most important emerging intersections in sustainable development: the relationship between artificial intelligence, climate action and gender equality.

Taking place on 3 October 2026 during Bangkok Climate Action Week, the five-hour bootcamp will introduce participants to AI fundamentals, gender bias, ethical issues, prompt engineering, custom GPTs and practical applications of artificial intelligence for climate work. Participants will also work toward developing their own responsible AI and climate project idea.

Applicants may participate physically at Nextopia, Siam Paragon in Bangkok, where capacity is limited to 50 people, or join remotely through Microsoft Teams.

UN Women states that the opportunity is open to young people aged 35 and below, and participants do not need programming or previous AI experience. Young women, gender-diverse youth, persons with disabilities and young people from ethnic-minority or Indigenous communities are particularly encouraged to register.

No formal registration deadline is specified in the application form, so interested candidates should register promptly because spaces are limited.

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